Coin pocket-book



J. W. MEAKER. 00in Pocket-Book Patented Mar. 30, I880.

oTmmYbcmFnm, WASHINGTON n c tended to better adapt the same for coin.

. llNiTnn STATES JOHN MEAKER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COIN POCKET-BOOK.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 225,993, dated March 30, 1880.

Application filed October 11, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN W. MEAKER, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pocket-Books for Coin and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in porte monnaies or pocket-books, and is in- It consists, primarily, in providing a receptacle within the body of the book, in which the coins may be exposed in a horizontal position and in a rigid inclined wall leading from the bottom of the coin-space to its margin, by means of which the coin may be easily withdrawn.

It also consists in other features of construction hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates, in perspective, a pocket-book embracing some of my improvements. Fig. 2 is a central transverse section of the same. Fig. 3 shows, in plan view, a rigid coin-holding slide divided to receive coins of different denominations. Figs. 4 and 5 show devices intended to prevent the opening of the coin-receptacle when wrong side up; and Fig. 6 shows a guard or hood applied to three sides of the coin-dish, to assist in retaining the contents therein.

It is the more especial object of my invention to provide a coin-receptacle in a pocketbook, in which the coins may be conveniently inspected, and for this purpose moved about among themselves by the finger, and from which a selected coin .may be readily withdrawn, particular reference being had to the. difficulties attending these operations in the use of the ordinary pocket-books and purses when the hands are gloved. For this purpose I employ a shallow receptacle, preferably made wholly of hard substance, so that the coins will move easily upon its inner surfaces, and arranged in the book to lie horizontal when its contents are exposed. It may be arranged to draw out of the book-body any required distance or to be uncovered by means of a hinged lid.

In the drawings,

R is such areceptacle, made,

say, of hard rubber or papier-mach, and of suitable depth to hold a few dollars in current coins.

The cover 0, hinged to the back of the dish R, is provided with the lifting spring e, and being secured by a spring-catch, f, is released by pressure of the thumb on the button I). The book may therefore be opened and held conveniently by the left hand in the position shown in Fig. l, presenting the entire contents of the receptacle lying horizontally and loosely therein. The front side,-I, or a portion thereof, is made inclined, as more clearly seen in Fig. 2. The remaining sides, V, are preferably vertical or overhanging, to better retain the coins. Thus exposed, the contents of the dish may be readily inspected, and for this purpose moved about among themselves in the selec tion of a particular coin. When selected such coin may, by a simple movement of the forefinger pressing thereon, be easily slid forward up the inclined face I and out of the dish into position to be grasped.

The rigid dish B is shown as being secured to the frame F by front and back screws; but it may itself form a portion of the frame.

S is another form 01' receptacle arranged to slide out a distance from the body of the book, and therefore necessarily wholly rigid. It is provided with three oblong depressions, a, in its upper face, intended to hold as many different denominations of small coins likely to be specially called for in minor transactions, as in payment of car-fare, 860. The depressions a are of such depth and size as to allow a number of coins to lie side by side in a row only, and to slide freely throughout their length. They may, if desired, be numbered to indicate the coins for which they are severally intended and adapted, as shown in Fig.

3. A stop, 8, permits the slide S to be drawn out only far enough to expose the outermost coins therein. A hole, H, of less diameter than the coin, is made through the thin bottom of the slide at the outer end of each coinspace, as also seen in Fig. 3. A spring-catch or othersuitable device, L, serves to hold the slide retracted.

Coins are dropped into the spaces a one at a time, and, the book being held properly inclined, they slide inward toward the rear end of the space. To remove a coin the book is inclined to slide the same to the outer end of the space, where it will lie over the hole H. The end of the forefinger is then pressed upward through the hole, and the coin is thus lifted above the rim of the slide and is slipped off into the hand by the thumb.

In the employment of a coin-pocket arranged to hold the coins loosely in a horizontal position, whether the same is uncovered by withdrawal, as shown, of the sliding pocket S, or is provided with a lid, as shown, of the receptacle B, it is necessary to provide that said pocket may not be opened in an im'erted position, so as to let the coins fall out. For this purpose I have devised a gravity-stop, (illustrated in Figs. 2, 4, and 5,) which operates to lock the slide or lid when wrong side up. In the ease of the slide or drawer S a recess, a, is made in the drawer, in which the short pin 19 loosely fits. Vhen the slide is right side up the pin drops wholly within the recess 1' and offers no obstruction to the free movement of the slide; but when the slide is iiiverted the pin 19 drops downward into the shallower hole '1" cut in the fixed part B, 'as shown in Fig. 4, and, being partly in both holes, prevents the slide from moving.

In the case of the lidded receptacle R the stop is applied to the spring-catch by which the lid is held. In Fig. 2 an inclined hole, 1', is shown, in which the shot if is loosely inclosed.

The spring f, which engages the hook h of the lid, is provided with a rear projection, n, which laterally enters the hole 1" when the button I) is pushed inward to disengage the catch. If the receptacle R is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the shot lies at the bottom of the hole 1', and the spring f meets no obstacle when the button I) is depressed. But if the book be inverted, or, indeed, if it be held much inclined, the shot falls to the other end of the hole and lies in the way of the projection at, preventing the disengagement of the catch.

. In Fig. 5 another ,form of gravity-stop is shown, consisting of the piece t, loosely pivoted at one end, which, when the book is 'inverted, drops at its free end behind the spring f and prevents the lid from being opened in this position. Then the book is right side up the free end of the part 25 falls out of the way of the spring, as shown, and presents no obstacle to its depression.

It is obvious that the receptacle R may be made to slide out from the body of the book any desired distance, as shown, of the slide or drawer S; but I prefer that it be stationary and opened by a lid, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

To more perfectly guard against spilling the coin from a receptacle thus wholly uncovered, I provide on three sides of the coinspace a narrow hood, m. (Shownmore eonspicuously in Fig. 6.) This may be of elastic rubber, leather, or cloth, and is so applied as to overhang the coin-space a short distance on all but the inclined side I. If flexible, it should be so applied as to naturally rise somewhat when not held down by the lid, and thus permit the coins to be freely inspected and moved by the finger, and with little care prevent their escape.

Except when the receptacle R is a slide or drawer, it is not strictly necessary that it be wholly rigid, as herein shown. It is sufficient that it is adapted to support the contained coins in a practically-horizontal position, and that the inclined side I, extending from the bottom of the receptacle to its margin, be so rigid or so supported as to guide the coin out of the receptacle under pressure and movement of the finger, as described. Nor is itindispensable that the inner surface of the re ceptacle immediately in contact with the coin be hard like rubber or metal. These surfaces may be covered with cloth, if desired, to

lessen the noise from the coin in shaking the book. When thus covered, however, the side I will need to be somewhat more inclined than when of hard and smooth surface like hard rubber.

P represents a division of the purse having pockets and a flap of the ordinary description for the accommodation of bills. It may be applied to the body, as shown, or to the lid 0, or to both.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a pocket-book, a coin-receptacle adapted to expose the coinsloosely contained therein in a horizontal position, and having a rigid inclined side, I, extending from the bottom to the margin of the coin-space, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a pocket-book, the rigid coin-receptacle R, having the inclined inner face, I, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with the shallow coinreceptacle R of a pocket-book, adapted to be uncovered, so as to expose the contained coins in a horizontal position, the hood m, overhanging the coin-space, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4.. In combination with a pocket-book, the rigid coin drawer or slide S, provided with one or more depressions, a, for the reception of coins, each having the hole H through its bottom at its outer end, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In combination with the spring-catch f, the inclined passage 1* and shot t, movable therein by gravity, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. MEAKER.

Witnesses:

M. E. DAYTON, JEssE Cox, Jr. 

